The biometric ID cards and passports transition was accompanied by strong opposition from many elements in Israel, which delayed the process for a long time. The fear was that sensitive and personal information about Israeli citizens might leak at the touch of a single button and cause irreversible damage. Finally, the process was launched.
However, it turns out that already at the initial bureaucratic stage, the fear of leaking personal details about civilians – it turns out to be true. Bechadrei Chareidim reports it has been informed of a serious case in which a mail sent by the Population and Immigration Authority to a large list revealed the email addresses of hundreds of people requesting biometric documentation.
The serious case of the leak of email addresses follows the fact that thousands of Israeli citizens are waiting in line for biometric documentation, and the pressure is growing. In recent days, the Population and Migration Authority has sent a response to hundreds of people, saying, “Due to the heavy workload, we were unable to return to you in time.”
It turns out, however, that the message was mistakenly attached to the email addresses of hundreds of citizens, who also turned to biometric documentation, and that the person in the Population and Migration Authority who sent the email mistakenly revealed all of the applicants’ email addresses.
The full message was sent in the distribution: “We have received your request for a biometric documentation queue due to the heavy load, we are unable to return to you in time, we will refer you to a new MyVisit smartphone app, via which you can make another appointment. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Haim Katz, a chareidi man whose email address was revealed by the Population and Immigration Authority, told Bechadrei Chareidim that “this is a very serious case, how a body is responsible for not leaking sensitive information from the biometric database and that it will remain secret and secure – In a secure manner, and with the click of a button, accidentally revealed the personal details of hundreds of civilians. ”
Bechadrei turned to the Population and Immigration Authority, which responded: “An examination of the matter shows that there was indeed a human error based on the desire to make the process more efficient, and we take advantage of the mistake and the procedures have been sharpened to those involved in everything.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
The whole program is a disaster. I was at Ben gurion today and the machines to read the things didn’t work. Waited on line forever.
The real danger of biometrics is in its duplication or destruction. This incident shows the general incompetence of government employees. The government sector is generally the poorest equipped and trained in a country.
As the reliance on this technology grows and become ubiquitous, the danger of identity theft or obliteration skyrockets. Once an entire population’s biometric data is located in one place, it will become the target of every hacker on the planet. Any assurances by the government as to how safe and secure it all is can not be taken seriously. Today identity is diffused. It is carried on each of us by each of us. Once identity become centralized, it can be copied or erased by the push of a button. What could an individual do if his biometrics is deliberately or accidentally destroyed? Today, in Israel, it is necessary to show an ID card or at least give an ID number in order to receive many government services or even enter some buildings.
Then of course there is the opposite problem. Once identity exists only as a cyber phenomena, it will be much easier to create multiple personalities and use them for criminal activities.
Electronic identity like electronic money has many advantages but the dangers far outweigh the advantages.
Am I the only one having difficulty comprehending this article? It seems like it was translated from Hebrew by google…